Rockwell 21-122 Mill

[recoilless]

Chanced upon an opportunity to purchase one of these. Machine is in real good shape, don't really need the horizontal function as I have a Hardinge TM. Curious about parts availability,though, as all my other machines seem to be real easy to get parts for. The mill seems to be well made and designed other than the 30 NMTB spindle on horizontal function. Any comments from owners out there? Thanks in advance.

[thistle]

whats wrong with 30 taper?

[recoilless]

Perhaps I phrased that wrong. Maybe availability although I have found some more sources since I typed that in. I'm really looking at it a a vertical mill as I already have two horizontals.

[JCHannum]

The Rockwell mills are good mills for the HSM.

While parts may be difficult to come by for them, they are quite simple and rugged machines. With reasonable care, I do not see parts being a problem. Most are within the scope of the HSM to fabricate.

[recoilless]

These are the kind of decisions I love to hate. Got some cash smoldering in my pocket from some golf that went my way this summer. I was all set to buy a DRO when I saw the ad for this mill, went and checked it out. Now I'm having a hard time convincing myself I don't need it. I think I'll force myself to make up my mind tomorrow.

[ERBenoit]

See Here:

http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/showthread.php?t=11347

I have not had the need to obtain any parts, so availibility thereof?? If the mill has the vertical head, IMO consider it.

[lazlo]

whats wrong with 30 taper?

Yeah really, 30 Taper is much more substantial than R8, although I don't think milling machines up to 3 - 4 HP are really limited by the R8 collet.

30 taper tooling is less common on Ebay, and a lot more expensive, but if you hold a 30 taper arbor in one hand, and an R8 arbor in the other, you'll realize you're paying by the pound

[thistle]

plenty of 30 taper stuff around .